PM trying to influence army, alleges ALThe Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) has alleged that Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is exercising extra-constitutional powers by giving guidelines to the army about its role in the next election.

&nbsp

28 on Cox's Bazar land grabbers' listThe Chittagong Coastal Forest Department has published a list of 28 land grabbers featuring some local union parishad (UP) chairmen and political leaders, and sought the administration's interventionin

&nbsp

Appointment of new EC seen as pressure tacticsThe appointment of a new election commissioner is meant to keep pressure on Awami Legue (AL)-led 14-party opposition coalition while an influential section of the government is currently planning to appoint

&nbsp

14-party to lay siege to EC on Sept 6, PMO Sept 12The 14-party opposition combine will lay siege to the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat on September 6 and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on September 12, seeking to force the ruling alliance to

&nbsp

BSF, BDR trade fire in SatkhiraIndian Border Security Force (BSF) fired on two camps of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in sadar and Kalaroa upazilas early yesterday, triggering fresh tension across the border between the two countries.

&nbsp

14-party sees a series of major challenges aheadAwami League (AL)-led 14-party opposition coalition sees politicisation of the administration, violence by militants, possible attacks on its leaders and candidates, and armed forces' role as major challenges

&nbsp

Khulna factions hold separate programmesTwo feuding factions of Khulna BNP held two separate rallies and processions in the city yesterday afternoon on the occasion of the 28th founding anniversary of the party.

&nbsp

Ahab to float 'Insaf', contest next electionAhle Hadith Andolon Bangladesh (Ahab) will soon float a new political party styled 'Insaf' and field candidates to contest the next general election from at least 65 constituencies that are widely considered

Criminal killed in Bagerhat 'shootout'A notorious robber of the Sundarbans was killed in an encounter between members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and his accomplices at West Bisharighata under Morrelganj Police Station of Bagerhat district

&nbsp

Tehran won't give up an iota of its nuclear rightsPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent a curt message to global powers yesterday vowing Iran "will not give up one iota" of its nuclear rights, in the first official reaction to a critical International Atomic

&nbsp

29 die in Iran air disaster, 148 surviveTwenty-nine people were killed yesterday when an Iranian airliner caught fire after landing in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran's civil aviation chief said, lowering earlier reports of up to 80dead.

Suspect handed over to police in MandaRapid Action Battalion (Rab) handed over arrested outlaw Firoz alias Farhad, a suspect in the recent murder of four policemen and a Jubo Dal leader in Naogaon, to Manda police yesterday.

&nbsp

Taxi cab blows up while refuellingA compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station caught fire at Mirpur as a CNG-run taxi blew up while refuelling early yesterday injuring two people.

&nbsp

2 criminals held, arms recoveredRapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested two listed criminals in the city's Lalmatia and New Eskaton areas on Thursday night and recovered a revolver and three bullets from their possession.

3-day Batexpo to begin Sept 21A three-day exposition of Bangladesh apparel and textile products will begin in the capital on September 21 with the organisers expecting substantial numbers of foreign buyers and representatives of leading

Bangladesh trade show in Siliguri from todayBangladesh's first trade fair in India's tourist-town Siliguri gets off to a festive start today to showcase a wide range of products, including the country's famous hilsa fish.

&nbsp

Mahbub Jamil vice president of Singer CorpMahbub Jamil has become vice president of Singer Corporation, says a press release. Stephen H Goodman, chairman, president and CEO, has made this announcement from New York.

&nbsp

UAE to host major oil confce in NovMore than 1,000 major oil and gas companies from some 50 countries will take part in an international energy exhibition in Abu Dhabi in November, the official WAM news agency said Friday.

Global economy needs boost: UNJapan and Germany are failing to stimulate the world economy, leaving the United States with the difficult burden of generating enough demand for goods and services to sustain growth around the world,

Football:Parvez powers N'ganj to finalAbdullah Parvez took Narayanganj to the final of the Jubok Phone National Football Championship as his 12th minute strike helped the holders' edge past star-studded hosts in the second semifinal at the

&nbsp

Cricket:Only the beginningPakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar warned England on Friday that he will get faster and stronger after making a three-wicket return following a six-month absence from one-day international cricket.

&nbsp

Cricket:Academy play final ODI todayBangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) National Academy will play their third and final one-day match against the Pakistan Cricket Academy at the Bagh-e-Jinnah Stadium in Lahore today.

&nbsp

Cricket:Second ODI todayPakistan coach Bob Woolmer believes his side are more determined as a result of the ball-tampering row which threatened to end their tour of England.

&nbsp

Football:DC Cup final todayThe first DC Cup football tournament will see its finale today at the Khagrachhari Stadium when the hosts take on surprise package Dighinala.

&nbsp

Cricket:Sourav hurt but not outFormer India captain Sourav Ganguly said on Friday he was hurt at his continued exclusion from the team and insisted he was good enough to play international cricket.

Tennis:Sania crashes outSania Mirza flattered to deceive once again as she bowed out of the US Open women's singles with a three-set loss to Fransesco Schiavone of Italy in the second round on Thursday.

&nbsp

Cricket:Inzy confident of clearancePakistan captain Inzamamul Haq is confident his team will be cleared of ball tampering charges he described as concocted and unjustified.

&nbsp

Football:Qualifiers kick off todayItaly will be hoping to mark their World Cup success in July by giving their fans more to celebrate in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania in Naples on Saturday.

Football:Cole-Gallas switch allegiancesEngland defender Ashley Cole moved from Arsenal to Chelsea on Thursday with French defender William Gallas moving in the opposite direction to bring to an end one of English soccer's most protracted transfer

&nbsp

Football:Totti to return next yearFrancesco Totti said Friday he will make an international comeback in 2007.The Italian playmaker indicated he would retire from the international scene after his country's World Cup victory in July.

Football:Italy squad expandedItaly coach Roberto Donadoni on Friday added Gennaro Del Vecchio and Angelo Palombo to his squad for the first two matches of the world champions' Euro 2008 group B qualifying campaign.

&nbsp

Football:Platini drops TV jobFormer France coach and captain Michel Platini announced Friday he was standing down as consultant with cable channel Canal Plus to concentrate on his UEFA presidency bid.

&nbsp

Football:Corinthians dream in tattersIn late 2004, a London-based group called Media Sports Investment (MSI) signed a multimillion-dollar partnership deal with Corinthians promising to turn Brazil's second-most popular club into the pride

&nbsp

Cricket:Boje, Gibbs available for IndiaSouth Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs and bowler Nicky Boje have made themselves available to play in the Champions Trophy tournament in India starting next month.

&nbsp

Cricket:Strauss issues time alertEngland captain Andrew Strauss has conceded that with next year's World Cup on the horizon his side does not have long left to find a winning formula in one-day cricket.

&nbsp

Football:Juventus drop legal actionJuventus, who were relegated to Serie B and given a 17-point penalty for match-fixing, on Thursday dropped their planned civil court action against the Italian football federation (FIGC).

Football:Hammers hail Argentine coupWest Ham were on Friday glowing in the satisfaction of beating a host of top clubs across Europe to sign Argentina aces Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Corinthians.

Football:Inter deny Real swapNo swap deal between Inter Milan and Real Madrid concerning Adriano and Ronaldo would be taking place said an official of the Italian club, ANSA news agency reported on Thursday.

&nbsp

Football:Deportivo release Tristan, ScaloniFormer Spain striker Diego Tristan and Argentina midfielder Lionel Scaloni have been released from their contracts with Deportivo La Coruna.

Football:Cygan moves to VillarrealFrench defender Pascal Cygan on Thursday left English side Arsenal to sign for Villarreal in Spain on a two-year contract, the Spanish club saiid.

&nbsp

Cricket:India preparing at 'ideas camp'India's preparations for next year's World Cup in the West Indies have begun in earnest with a novel training camp, vice-captain Virender Sehwag said on Thursday.

&nbsp

Hockey:Wanderers, Wari keep winningDhaka Wanderers Club blanked Combined Sporting Club 3-0 in the Green Delta Insurance First Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium yesterday.

&nbsp

Football:Sheikh Russell football meet kicks offBahadur Bazar Club put five past a hapless Mission Road Sporting Club in the opening match of the Sheikh Russell Memorial Gold Cup football tournament at the Dinajpur Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maidan yesterday.

&nbsp

Tennis:Open SecretsVania King hoped fans would hear from her at the US Open. They did, on and off the court.

&nbsp

Cricket:Aussies talk up Eng chancesAustralia's top cricketers are preparing for a battle royale against England when the Ashes series starts Down Under in November.

&nbsp

Cricket:No jackpotPlans for a $5m winner-takes-all match in the Caribbean have been shelved because of a scheduling conflict.

&nbsp

Cricket:'Unseen tampering possible'Sanjay Manjrekar, the former Indian batsman, has said that ball-tampering can be done without being caught on any of the numerous television cameras.

&nbsp

Cricket:Twice better: McGrathAustralia are twice the team they were when losing the Ashes last year and are ready to wrest back the urn from England, according to Glenn McGrath.

36 killed by law enforcers in AugA total of 36 people were killed across the country by law enforcement agencies in the previous month, a report of Adhikar based on newspaper analysis reveals yesterday.

&nbsp

Journos can help make local govt strongerSpeakers at a daylong workshop here on Thursday said journalists can play a vital role in establishing democracy at grassroots by making the local government stronger.

Follow Cambodia in collecting evidencesBangladesh should follow Cambodia in collecting evidences of brutal activities by the war criminals to put them under trial, said the speakers at a programme yesterday.

Victims still wait for reliefTwo sisters, Hawa Begum, 40, and Aysha Begum, 38, were standing with a blank look in front of one of the relief collection points on Basila Road in Mohammadpur yesterday as the victims of Basila slumfire

Death of Bangladeshi peacekeepers condoledCoalition of Local NGOs, Bangladesh (CLNB) yesterday held a condolence meeting followed by a mourning procession at Muktangan in the city in memory of the six Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were killedin

&nbsp

1 killed in Jhenidah clashA man was killed and five others were injured in a clash between two rival groups over transaction of money at Pabahati in Jhenidah municipal area yesterday.

&nbsp

Osmani didn't compromise on democracy: Dr MoyeenScience and Information and Communication Technology Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan yesterday said people would remember Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation Forces General MAG Osmani for his contributions

CU Persian Dept activities suspendedChittagong University (CU) authorities have suspended all academic activities of the Department of Persian Language and Literature for a year due to shortage of teachers.

&nbsp

2 get life for raping minor girlA court here on Thursday sentenced two people to life imprisonment for raping a minor girl. The convicts are Hafez Bokaul and Alam Sheikh of Ibrahimpur village under Sadar upazila.

Mudslinging in Magura BNP on founding dayIntra-party feud in Magura district BNP took a new turn yesterday as two rival factions brought out separate processions and held discussions meetings in the town in observance of the party's founding

Special prayers, rally held in PhulbariSpecial prayers were held at all mosques, temple and churches in Phulbari in Dinajpur yesterday for those killed in the August 26 fire by law enforcers during demonstrations opposing the coal mine project.

&nbsp

4 JMB cadres get lifeFour militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were sentenced to life term rigorous imprisonment (RI) by a special tribunal here for their involvement in August 17 serial blasts in Gaibandhatown

&nbsp

Workshop on TB heldTB (tuberculosis) germs become drug resistant if a patient gives a gap in taking medicine before competing the course.

The physics of consent and the premonitionsPOLITICAL thinkers are of the considered opinion that in terms of a hierarchy of constitutional rights, the right to vote should be placed at the top of the list because it concerns the right to fullpolitical

&nbsp

Morality in politicsPOLITICS as an area of study is concerned with enriching knowledge and understanding of government and society.

&nbsp

Growth and development of parliamentary governmentNOTWITHSTANDING the reintroduction of constitutional order with distinctive features of parliamentary system of government in 1991, the operation of its political and constitutional process in Bangladesh

&nbsp

Begum Noor Jehan MurshidSHE was a ray of sunshine and the centre of our universe. Ever patient and understanding, she was aware of all our needs, even before we could articulate them.

An evening of accoladesOne of the biggest cultural events of this year, Citycell-Channel i Music Award 2005 was held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on August 31.

&nbsp

Preparation of up-coming Lalon devoteesA visitor to the Chhewria Lalon's Akhra, now known as Lalon Academy Complex, is likely to encounter a group of young ones playing the ektara and singing Lalon songs with the elderly fakirs.

&nbsp

Film posters aglow with spiritA film poster exhibition, dedicated to the anniversary of diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and Russia, is being held at the Russian Cultural Centre.

Slapping sanctions on Iran face rough rideThe international community is moving towards sanctioning Iran for its disputed atomic program but seems to have ever decreasing leverage to halt Tehran's nuclear ambitions, diplomats and analysts said

Blair defiant over departure dateBritish Prime Minister Tony Blair called for an end to speculation about when he will leave office, sparking renewed calls yesterday for a departure timetable from critics within his party.

&nbsp

Cracks in Israel coalition over Lebanon warCracks emerged yesterday in Israel's coalition government over the Lebanon war, as Defence Minister Amir Peretz demanded a full-scale inquiry, putting himself at odds with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

&nbsp

Merkel tops Rice as most powerful womanGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel has unseated US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the world's most powerful woman, according to a new ranking by Forbes magazine.

&nbsp

Slain Baluch leader gets lonely burialPakistan's nationalist leader was quietly laid to rest yesterday six days after he was killed in a military offensive, with the speedy burial sparking an outcry from his relatives.

&nbsp

Dams worsen north Indian floodsSoldiers were called out on Thursday to rescue thousands of marooned villagers in Uttar Pradesh after water was released from dams in neighbouring Nepal.

Heat, drought take rising toll on SW ChinaThe worst drought to hit southwest China in more than a century is spreading to neighbouring provinces with temperatures reaching record highs, state media said yesterday.

Bush rejects call for Iraq withdrawalUS President George W. Bush on Thursday predicted an apocalyptic future if the United States hastily quits Iraq, and warned Iran would pay a price for not freezing sensitive nuclear work.

&nbsp

Russia rejects Iran sanctionsIran said yesterday that a nuclear standoff with the West could only be settled through negotiation while Russia called imposing punitive sanctions on Tehran for not ending sensitive atomic work a dead

Editorial:Mounting violence in IraqWe have written on Iraq on a number of occasions in this column, but every time we wrote we hoped to write something better, something positive next time that would come as a breath of fresh air.

&nbsp

Editorial:A public interest rulingTaking cognisance of a Janakantha report under the title "no whereabouts of the youth for four days after arrest ...

Only through dialogueI HAD the privilege of meeting Akbar Khan Bugti, the slain Baloch leader, after the birth of Bangladesh and before the Shimla conference.

&nbsp

A policy for foreign investment should be in forceWHEN investors from abroad come to invest in a foreign country, obviously their goal is to make profit and repatriate it. The investors do not come to do any favour to the country receiving foreign investment.

One laptop per childWe have known about the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) of the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media labs and their revolutionary $100 laptops for a while now.

&nbsp

Local writer's work complements ACMICPCWith the evolution and development of the information and communication technology (ICT) throughout the world focusing more on the making of a 'World IT Village', programming contests are becoming animperative